The challenge

"Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it." —Helen Keller

It might seem strange that children in this decade cannot access their basic right to an education, but a quick look at the news shows the unfair circumstances in which many are forced to live. Al Madad Foundation was established to respond to their plight.

At Al Madad Foundation, we see education as a way to help emancipate and empower the most vulnerable and excluded, especially in times of crisis and disaster when more immediate priorities must take centre stage.

Education in times of crisisA 2016 UNICEF report states that there are “28 million child refugees who [have] fled conflict” around the world, and the UNHCR reports that only 50% of refugee children have access to primary education. Further complicating matters, displaced and refugee children face a unique set of challenges which require tailored solutions.

There is no question of whether war, crisis, conflict and displacement affect the mental health and wellbeing of children. While on the outside they may show great resilience when facing hardship and stress, young refugees are still at risk of developing problems stemming from the traumatic circumstances to which they are subjected as well as issues around integration, identity and belonging.

Added to this, refugee and disadvantaged host community children face numerous social and security challenges that can interrupt their schooling and, with it, their hope for a better future. These conditions place their basic rights at risk and create substantial child protection and safeguarding issues- fractured families and poor living conditions, child labour, forced displacement from informal refugee camps, even food security.

Our focusThe Middle East and North Africa remain our primary focus for the near future. The MENA region is currently enduring devastation and loss on all levels, and for Al Madad Foundation’s founders, this area holds special significance. According to the UN, the Syrian conflict in particular has seen “the biggest refugee and displacement crisis of our time”. Amid the resulting damage, it is placing an untenable strain on Lebanon's already overtaxed education system. In fact, 250,000 children- approximately half of the nearly 500,000 school-aged Syrian children registered in Lebanon- are out of school. Some have never stepped inside a classroom. Through our research, experience in the field and work with our partners, we have identified the challenges that hinder children's access to education. By addressing these obstacles, we are gradually starting to realise a vision of a more positive future.